[vmfa] Re: Northern Pike - any other fisher experiences?
- From: "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:08:51 -0600
Hi Kevin,
The northern pike are a very popular fish around here, and in fact, are a
funtastic fish to catch through the ice. This is the time of the year when
they are pre-spawn and we have some hogs that are pulled through the ice on the
Mississippi backwaters that can get as large as 25-30 lbs…gators they call
them! They are n to invasive here, but we do have some invasive species
around here including the Gobi, Silver Carp, and some other rough fish species.
Unfortunately, they are here to stay, and the bigger question at this point is
how can they be effectively managed.
I still haven’t gotten out ice-fishing, but did read an article last week of a
jumbo black crappie caught near Minneapolis that tipped the scales at over 3.25
lbs and 19 inches long...that is a wall-hanger for sure! However, it is also
not uncommon to see this size fish around here as they too are pre-spawn as we
prepare for ice-out. Perch are also at that point, and the walleyes will soon
be ready as well. Spring is a fantastic time of year to fish around these
parts.
Steve
From: vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Kevin Frankeberger (Redacted sender "k_frankeberger@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 7:55 PM
To: vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vmfa] Northen Pike - any other fisher experiences?
Indeed all,
Does any one else on the list have experiences in fishing for or catching
Northern Pike?
In the news release I shared, it seems the Northern Pike was introduced into
the waterways illegally many decades ago. Now, the effort is on to get them
the "heck" out of here! In this state, salmon of course rule but steelhead and
rainbow trout are loved as well.
For further discussion, do you know if your own state Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife are "on top of" any invasive fish species if of course, you have any?
It would be fun to hear your thoughts and get our fishing list up and going
again ahead of spring fishing! LOL
Best, Kevin
_____
From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman]\\` <rmilliman@xxxxxxx>
To: vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 3:27 PM
Subject: [vmfa] Re: Managing our fisheries
Kevin, yes, northern pike have sharp teeth. They are quite long and slender and
can get quite large relative to most other freshwater species. So, you are
recalling the same fish.
Ron
From: vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Kevin Frankeberger (Redacted sender "k_frankeberger@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:02 PM
To: vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vmfa] Re: Managing our fisheries
Ron and all:
Like you, I was a tad surprised per damage done by Northern Pike but I sure
understand how the eco-system can get messed up when us mankind introduces
non-native species.
Do pardon my memory but I think as a young man out on Lake Erie Walleye fishing
we'd run into and catch a Northern Pike from time to time. Don't they have
teeth or something very similar? Also, aren't Northern Pike what folk are
fishing for when ice fishing on the Great Lakes?
Thanks for any education coming my way! LOL
Kevin
_____
From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman]\\` <rmilliman@xxxxxxx>
To: vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:16 PM
Subject: [vmfa] Re: Managing our fisheries
Kevin, I didn’t realize the problem Northern Pike was causing in your area of
the country. We loved to fish for northern pike when I lived in Michigan. They
are a good eating fish, and they are an exceptionally excellent fish to smoke.
Many people travel to the remote areas of Canada just to fish for northern
pike. They are fun to catch. They can be pretty ferocious fighters.
Ron
From: vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vmfa-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Kevin Frankeberger (Redacted sender "k_frankeberger@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 4:51 PM
To: vmfa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vmfa] Managing our fisheries
Dear all:
Our list has been quiet as I guess we all wait for spring and getting "out
there" once again.
Below is a news release from WA State's dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Of course,
since I live in WA state, I "get it" all but perhaps others, who live without
hatchery influences, tribal treaties and pressures from surrounding states and
Canada, this might be interesting reading. My editorial statement is that the
more "man" tries to help, sometimes we simply screw it up more so then, like
the release below, decades later we have to spend tons of resources to do what
mother nature had intended in the first place. sigh Best, Kevin
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
<http://wdfw.wa.gov/> http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Contacts: Bruce Bolding, WDFW, 360-902-8417
John Whalen, WDFW, 509-892-7861
Jason Olson, KNRD, 509-447-7290
Battle against invasive northern pike
will resume despite dwindling numbers
SPOKANE - State and tribal fish managers are winning the battle against
invasive northern pike on a section of the Pend Oreille River in northeast
Washington, but they don't expect to declare victory anytime soon.
For the fourth straight year, crews from the Kalispel Tribe Natural Resources
Department (KNRD) will use gill nets to remove non-native pike from Box Canyon
Reservoir and work with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
to monitor the results.
As in previous years, the netting operation will run five days per week through
March and April, even though fish managers estimate they have already removed
more than 90 percent of the northern pike from the reservoir.
"Northern pike are voracious predators that pose a significant threat to native
and game fish species," said Bruce Bolding, WDFW warmwater fish program
manager. "We can't stop these fish from moving into Washington waters from
Idaho, but we're going to do everything we can to keep their numbers as low as
possible."
A key goal is to keep northern pike from moving downstream from the Pend
Oreille River into the Columbia River, where they could affect salmon and
steelhead populations, Bolding said.
Surveys conducted by WDFW and KNRD between 2004 and 2011 documented a rapid
increase in the number of pike in Box Canyon Reservoir and a significant
decline in abundance of other fish species.
Bolding said gillnetting during early spring has proven to be the most
effective method of reducing northern pike. Between 2012 and 2014, more than
16,000 fish (38,000 pounds) were removed by netting.
In addition, anglers harvested a total of 334 northern pike during
"PikePalooza" fishing derbies sponsored by KNRD, which offered more than
$20,000 in cash and prizes over the past three years.
Jason Olson, KNRD Fisheries Conservation Program Manager, said the tribe will
not conduct similar fishing derbies this year, because the numbers of northern
pike have been reduced so far.
"We expect sport angler catch rates for northern pike in Box Canyon Reservoir
to remain low," Olson said. "However, bass fishing can be exceptional, and
populations of brown trout and panfish are showing signs of rebounding."
State and tribal fishery managers encourage anglers to harvest as many northern
pike as they can from both Box Canyon and Boundary reservoirs. Under state law,
any northern pike that is caught must be killed before it is removed from the
area in which it was taken.
While the Box Canyon Reservoir has the state's largest population of northern
pike, anglers have also reported catching them in the Columbia River just north
of the Canada border, near Northport and Kettle Falls, and in the Spokane River
from Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho to Long Lake in Spokane County.
Bolding said problems with northern pike started with illegal releases of the
fish into the Flathead, Bitterroot and Clark Fork river systems in Montana,
where they migrated downstream into Idaho's Lake Pend Oreille and into
Washington.
For more information about northern pike in Washington and annual summaries of
the project see <http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/esox_lucius/>
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/esox_lucius/ .
Other related posts:
- » [vmfa] Re: Northern Pike - any other fisher experiences? - Steven Johnson
